The division of Uber was the one that absorbed Otto, the self-driving trucking company that Uber bought in August of last year. The new trucks have more powerful LiDAR sensors, upgraded software, and no longer have the Otto logo on them, thanks to a dispute with Canada-based Otto Motors.

Uber seems to have a short-term strategy to get semi-autonomous trucks to market within the next few years. Right now the company is testing semi-autonomous trucks in California, and will potentially move to other locations in the future. That'll help it get to market quickly, perhaps within the next year or two, which could be a good move.

That's because there's mounting evidence that even semi-autonomous trucking will cut down shipping costs drastically, so businesses will likely want to ship their goods in semi-autonomous trucks. Uber coming to market quickly could make a compelling option.

But Uber also has a long-term play for the industry, and it's also likely a smart one.

Uber wants to control the whole driverless trucking ecosystem. Similar to its strategy with self-driving cars, it appears as though Uber wants to build the technologies that make a truck drive itself, such as LiDAR sensors, cameras, and software, and sell them directly to companies that want them. But it won't stop there — it also wants to deploy the trucks themselves through a fleet.

That could help it undercut competitors, which have slightly different plans for the space. Like other tech-focused providers, Uber could charge to supply the technology stack for autonomous trucking and break even. But if Uber is making an ecosystem play, it would also make a profit elsewhere, like in deploying the vehicles itself — a lucrative opportunity, since the global logistics market will grow to become a $15.5 trillion industry as soon as 2023. That means it could undercut other players by charging less for the technology stack, making it a popular option and helping it attract business while still making money.

The self-driving car is no longer a futuristic fantasy. Consumers can already buy vehicles that, within a few years time, will get software updates enabling them to hit the road without the need for a driver.

This autonomous revolution will upend the automotive sector and disrupt huge swaths of the economy, while radically improving energy efficiency and changing the way people approach transport around the world.

Automakers and tech companies are racing to develop the technology that will power self-driving cars in the coming years. That tech is advancing, but leaves observers with a bigger question: will consumers trust driverless car tech, and will they want to use autonomous cars?

Explains the current state of technology, regulation, and consumer perception.

Analyzes how the development of autonomous cars will impact employment and the economy.

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